What do your current stairs look like?

Stairs are expensive. Cost may be a factor in which one to choose. The architect can guide you on that and may have other options for you to consider.

Think about how you will be getting your furniture up to the second floor. Will you be able to maneuver the turns easily.

You can have a balcony that overlooks your foyer and your living room which would make things nice and open. You can also make the entrance from the foyer into the living much wider than the one you have in your photo (wouldn’t feel so cut off). Of course you would have to have a two story foyer and family room (in the pics below, ignore the curved staircase and stairs not laid out to your liking). You can lay out your stairs anyway you choose but just have a balcony open to both areas (foyer/living room).

Some gorgeous entryways. Would love one like that but think it takes up too much footprint in our plan. Trying to get at least one side of the staircase exposed. Nice pictures though, will have to see if I can dig up some of one side.

From the look of your sketch, I think you need a better architect, or more thought in your plan. The stair being the very least of the issues..: ) Concentrate first on all daily functions. I assume there is a reason for the toilet in the garage? Needs some work but hard to advise without seeing both floors and reasoning with regards to both.

I actually think the stairs in photo three are nice

I'm sorry, I know your question is about stairs, but think houssaon is right, I would not want my clothing on the other side of the bathroom.

Jan Moyer, I thought that was a toilet too, but I think its the hot water and furnace

I think the existing stairs are lovely. I also think that putting clothes away in the master closet from the laundry is gonna get old really fast.

Your "...I have always wanted an L shaped stairway with a balcony for an entry way..." is the tail wagging the dog as far as architectural design is concerned.

There are so many ways to formulate an organizing concept for a house, but I don't think I've ever encountered "my house is organized around my love of an L-shaped entry stairway and balcony..."

It's your house, your budget and your operating costs. If this is more important to you than anything else in your house...go for it!

Just be prepared for all the extra space and cost which will be necessary; the added extra steps and circulation effort; the added expense for heating and cooling.

Good luck on your project!

I would be teeaking the MBR corner tubs are a PIA walking through the bathroom to get to the closet another one. I actually like #2 better I think #1 is spindle overload for no real gain in function

I don't like stairways with balconies at the top. Noise from both floors carries, and there is no privacy for those using the upstairs hall. DD has one of these - it's been a challenge to get the boys to not go back and forth from the bath to their bedroom with only a towel wrapped around their waste. She wishes it was enclosed. I do prefer a staircase that is curved or L-shaped so one does not see the top of the stairs or the upstairs landing.

We have a staircase (L and curved) with open bridge at top. We beefed up insulation and other noise reduction elements and we have no problem. In fact, we can't hear anything from down to up! We just have railing and ironwork on a bit of the bottom and up top which reduces cost and spindle clutter! Keep working it. This is when you can best put your time and energy. Later, making changes especially on a stairway is VERY COSTLY. Is the person you are working with a licensed architect or a draftsperson. An architect should be able to give you better inputs on all the factors mentioned.

I'm with Virgil , but then I just spent hours ripping a dated floor plan that combined laundry with closet cubbies, a corner located. lake sized jetted tub in a master, and a powder room with a shower ( being used as a broom closet) .......all of which screamed late nineties to me and the client : )

You didn't ask about the master bath, but I would bring that forward to the front of the house, and put the closet between the bathroom and bedroom. Reason being is that you really don't need a window in your closet, and if you put the bathroom on the front, you could get two windows in there, one on each wall, and give you alot more natural light. Maybe on the side of the house you make this a thin transom like window up high, so you don't have to worry about covering it, or people seeing in from the outside. Could even go over the mirrors and vanity if you have the ceiling height.

You could keep the existing layout and still put a high transom style window over the vanity if you have a 9' ceiling. Which direction does that side of the house face? Would you get direct sun in thru that window?

Keep in mind that if the closet window gets alot of sun and you don't keep it covered, your clothes will fade just hanging in your closet. I guess you could get special UV coatings to help minimize this... Why waste an expensive window on a room that you will spend less than 5 minutes in each day?

I’d consider other options for privacy than glass block. IMO it’s not an attractive look in most implementations, and there are other ways to obscure the view through a window.

Frosted glass or other distorted glass would be vastly more attractive than glass block. Have you considered hiring a designer to assist you. Someone who could meet with you and understand your needs and interests, budget, site, etc. Architects are great assets, but a good designer, with experience in new builds, can be extremely helpful with layouts, etc. They also can be very helpful in making sure you avoid common mistakes. Good luck. It is an adventure for sure. I have a "Checklist" I have developed for folks contemplating building and I'd be happy to share it with you. Just send me a request at manganflo@gmail.com and I can send you a copy.